Ok, we’re starting with some good ole metaphors. Let’s say we want to bury something in the backyard. We walk outside, grab the shovel and start digging. This is in correspondence to the hole we dig ourselves in active addiction and alcoholism. So you go outside and dig said hole, throw in the object (usually this is our misery and powerlessness), and then you slowly proceed with filling up the hole. Packing in the dirt is going to take time and dedication. Like so many other things in life, to start fixing the created problem, you must start at the beginning.

We start pushing in the mounds of dirt, one at a time. It might seem like it’ll take ages to get back to the top, but being consistent with the first few shovelfuls will get you on the right track. Alright, enough of the analogies. Essentially, when one decides to take on the path of recovery, getting clean and ridding all the junk out our systems is the beginning of our new beginnings. First, we have to make detox a priority.

Detoxifying all the chemicals and garbage out our systems will help us better function the way we are naturally intended to. All the alcohol and drugs practically weigh us down, and now the goal is to start shedding that weight. The process of detoxification is mostly physical. The idea of addiction and recovery is more mental exercise. Regardless, they both correspond with each other in regular everyday life. One step at a time is the idea here.

In Comes Healthy Living Choices

Making detox a priority over everything is a crucial way to begin recovery the right way. Sure, withdrawals are intimidating and extremely uncomfortable- there’s no denying that. The thing is, we shouldn’t stay bound to the shackles of addiction if there is a known way out. This is choosing torture in fear of what lies ahead. Most addicts and alcoholics will avoid detoxing for fear or how uncomfortable or painful withdrawing from a substance can be. This happened to be the case for myself. The worst of these withdrawals will include opiates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. The body is extremely prone to succumbing to a physical dependence on these particularly. Withdrawal symptoms can include cold and hot flashes, vomiting and diarrhea, fever, achy bones and/or joints, profuse sweating, and the overall sensation of what you’d imagine death feels like. However, the human body is an adaptive living thing and you will get through the discomfort.

It is often recommended that when starting the cleaning of your system, you do a little more than just drop the substances to the side. Upon entering recovery or sobriety, it is imperative to know that sometimes you must run twice as fast just to stay in place. Addiction and alcoholism are tricky mental diseases that will catch people off guard time and time again. So being proactive in our health choices will help everything flow smoothly as the chemicals slowly exit our bodies. This means taking a few extra steps.

I think it’s safe to say that when it gets to this point, we stopped caring about what we were putting in our bodies a long time ago. Now that we are making detox a priority, we must start caring about what’s going in. Drinking and eating healthy while detoxing can make a gigantic difference in your overall mood and level of energy. Drinking soda and eating fried junk is horrible for you anyway, so why would you do that to yourself while trying to expend all the built up toxins out? That’s only going to make it harder for you. In the end, we are the only solution to ourselves. They say there’s no “I” in teamwork, but I disagree. Sometimes it takes great effort to work with yourself on character defects and other personal things.

Getting back to the delivery, it is wise to take care of your body to the best of your ability while sobering up. Drinking water and liquids with electrolytes and vitamins is highly advised. When the detoxing commences, our bodies are depleted of fluids. Sometimes patients at a facility will be hooked up and monitored on an IV because of the level of dehydration being experienced. Liquids haven been taken care of, we now turn our heads over to food. Certain things we eat benefit our immune system. Some things promote renewal of blood, brain, and skin cells. Other edibles can help push all the heavy toxins out our bodies a little faster than anticipated. Eating junk food can be very detrimental while making detox a priority. Sticking to hearty, healthy foods will also encourage healthy brain functioning. This is vital for anybody to get out of that hazy cloud we’ve been living in.

It all boils down to creating a healthy routine of sorts. This, of course, includes sleep and exercise as top priorities. Not staying up too many hours and actually trying to fixate on a regular sleep schedule does the mind and body wonders. It’s all connected- the mind, body, and soul. Without the proper amount of sleep, everything will start performing poorly. It’s like a battery that needs charging. If you don’t charge it to 100%, you’re only going to get a fraction of the life that it could normally provide. Exercise and physical activity can help you sweat out toxins, increase healthy blood flow to your heart, and release endorphins in the brain causing you to feel in a content state. This is a highly beneficial way to distract you from the withdrawal discomfort.

What Are Your Priorities?

We all lead different lives, but at the end of the day, a lot of us deal with similar issues. Addiction and alcoholism are big ones, and if this be the case for you or a loved one- you are not alone. If you or your loved one is in need of detoxification due to substance dependency, please call 1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. Our team of specialists are waiting by to help figure out what options are best for sending your life in a comfortable direction that you can proudly stand behind.

Every coin has a flip side, and this is about the other side of addiction. We’re all just having a grand ole time until the clock strikes twelve and Cinderella loses her glass slipper. Excuse my analogy, but my point is that addiction and alcoholism always rear their ugly heads at some point. Everything is all hunky dory, and then in the blink of an eye, it all comes crashing down. Some try to weather the storm for a while, and others seek help to end the nightmare. One way or another, if you’ve been at it for a while, your mind and body are going to have become dependent on the substance du jour. When in active addiction, our entire being is wrapped up in the chemicals. We beat ourselves up to the point of no return and still expect to keep going. The human body can take quite a bit, but you’re bound to lose at some point playing Russian roulette like we do.

As most of us know, opiates are a form of pain reliever often prescribed by doctors in a prescription form. Opiates are also known to be the active ingredient in the killer narcotic known as heroin. They are used to manage pain, but at some point on the timeline, the body becomes dependent upon them. Opiate cravings take over and it then becomes a haunting trouble that lingers. The mind may be ready to “just say no”, but the human body will be in pain without it. So the user finds themselves in this perpetual revolving door of needing to take more and more because of the dependence developed. It’s never an easy step detoxing from opiates, but one that becomes necessary for some to maintain life on this planet.

Where Do We Begin?

Once we get to the jumping off point is where the changes begin. Either we continue on the same slippery slope, or we get help and do something about it. The latter of the two is preferable of course. So once we agree to help, now comes the cleaning up act. Coming off of any set of chemicals is never enjoyable. For some it’s alcohol, others it’s benzos, but today we’re specifically addressing a particular problem drug mentioned before. Detoxing from opiates. There’s no way around it, that is just an ugly phrase right there. I wouldn’t wish any form of detoxification on my worst enemies. It’s an uncomfortable experience that can last anywhere from days to weeks, this is, of course, depending on how long you were actively using. Naturally, the more you were putting in your body is the longer it’s going to take to rid the garbage out your system.

Everyone’s body handles the withdrawals a little differently, but most experience similar side effects as the time passes on. Some of the symptoms that pair along with detoxing from opiates can include but are not limited to hot and cold flashes, nausea and vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, loss of ability to use the bathroom, insomnia, headaches and migraines, and other body aches. These were all things that I would usually be prone to dealing with at some point in my detoxification process. There will be no sugarcoating the fact that once the progression begins, the body will feel like it’s dying. Everything in your mind will shout out that this is the end. Rest completely assured that it’s not.  The counter argument to these withdrawal symptoms is what you do to help yourself in this recovery process.

Seeking Help

The harsh reality is that it is not always possible to detox yourself from a home setting. It can be done but can be extremely dangerous, not to mention the withdrawals can get so intense that even the strongest will power won’t be able to fight off the cravings. If this is the case, it is recommended to search for help in various forms.

One very common method argued over and over about in the rooms of alcoholics and narcotics anonymous is using various forms of medication to titrate yourself off of the dependence. Generally, this can include prescriptions to Methadone, Suboxone or Subutex. Without going into deep detail, these are medications used to dose you with small amounts of relief as your body keeps pushing everything out. Prolonged use of these can just substitute the dependence onto the new chemicals being introduced. Ask your physician if these could be right for you.

Often times, detoxing from opiates is done at some sort of detoxification facility. These establishments can be found in treatment centers, some hospitals, and many are free-standing on their own operation. These are safe places to detox from the drugs while being monitored by a trained professional. I would recommend attending somewhere along these lines if the possibility is available. Having someone there to help assist you through the discomfort will make your life that much easier. Keep in mind that our bodies are depleted and at their wits end as we go through this. So staying hydrated and being fed are vital to the role of rejuvenation. Having somebody there for you will ensure that you’re taking in the nutrients you’re losing through the different bodily fluids pouring out of you. Medical professionals will be able to monitor blood pressure, fevers, and other potentially threatening things that will occur while the mind and body are readjusting. They will be there to give you advice and talk you through the worst of times. There are always options to better ourselves if you look hard enough.

It’s Only the Beginning

You may be thinking to yourself that it’s not worth the effort, but don’t be fooled. Making it through the detoxification off of opiates is one of the most rewarding things you can do. All that drugs will bring is certified misery and torture to your mind, body, and soul. If you or a loved one has been struggling to make the next step, call 1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. We have trained specialists on standby ready to help you start detoxing as comfortably as possible and send your life in a direction you can stand behind. To come out on top and feel healthy and happy, it’s worth the struggle- I promise.  

Hopefully, if you’re reading this, you have never had to partake in attending a detoxification facility. Or, on the other hand, maybe luckily you have. I suppose it’s all about perspective and how you look at it. Yes, ideally nobody wants to enter an institution and pay thousands of dollars just to better themselves back to being a normal person. Let’s face it though, sometimes it’s completely necessary for something like this to pull us out of the grips of our alcoholic addictions. When we’re deep in the depths of our dependency, not only do we think irrationally, but there are health concerns that make themselves prominent. The body and mind are adaptive pieces to our puzzling human body, but after all, we are only human. There is only so much abuse we can take before things start to get terrifying. Speaking for myself, I tried countless time after time to rid the chemicals out of my system on my own. Sweating it out on a couch with just some Gatorade can be a lot more trying than it sounds. Movies like “Trainspotting” don’t exactly paint a pretty picture, but Hollywood does seem to make it look easier said than done. For some of us though, going through a quality detox program is responsible for us being alive still today.

Absorbing Our Surroundings

When the high tide finally rolls in, we start taking a look at step one without even consciously realizing it. I mean, that’s the reason were even talking about or considering detoxifying anywhere right? There’s a problem we’ve created that we were oblivious to for the longest time, but now it’s starting to rear its nasty head in our direction. The unmanageability is taking over meaning its time to take action!  The first step to any problem is recognizing there is a problem, and then we do what’s required for the solution. In this case, admitting ourselves into a medical facility of some sort is what the recipe calls for.  

Walking shakily into some establishment, we begin thinking about the how and why that got us there. This is not to be focused on at this time. The priority is getting us to a sound state with the body and mind. This will require help from trained medical professionals. Signing ourselves into a quality detox is never easy, but making sure it is indeed worthwhile is definitely a priority to keep in mind. First and foremost, the staff and everybody employed should be of utmost professionalism and hold a standard to that of which you would expect any hospital to have. Of course, documentation of some sort of degree is always a plus when you have somebody examining you. The last thing you want is the doctor to come in, stinking of gin, and proceeding to lie on the table. Having a doctor or nurse with the proper accreditation, coupled with a warming bedside manner would be supreme of course. Often times there may be staff members employed in the medical facility that are not in it for the right reasons. This can end up being a hindrance to people like ourselves who are just trying to receive proper medical attention.

Aside from proper licensure, it is of utmost importance to check ahead of time that the facility we’re checking into is used to handling what it is we are going through. In some strange cases, you might have a detoxification setting that primarily deals with alcohol withdrawals, but never opiates or benzodiazepines. Of course, these terms can be interchanged. Regardless, it is always wise to check ahead of time that the institution suits your medical needs. Not only checking that they are prepared to help you properly but also looking into the various in’s and out’s you made need during your brief stay. This can range from visitation to acceptable medications allowed once inside.

As we continue discussing such matters, it is vital to remember that the idea behind going to a detoxification unit is to be comfortable while at the same time having certain needs met. Personally, I do believe that another part that takes a huge role is food and beverages. Now don’t get me wrong, the doc knowing his or her way around a medical room is of the topmost priority. However, our bodies are so depleted upon entering the ward that we need proper nourishment to continue on from our malnourished state we were so used to thriving in. Drinking a lot of water and fluids is important for any type of recovery from chemical abuse. In an ideal world, you don’t want to start the detoxification and start eating hot pockets and chicken nuggets. It’s important to start eating green leafy foods and drinking liquids that will provide you with enzymes and amino acids that your body is washed-out of.

Your Rights

Yes, you have a certain amount of rights that you are provided upon inflowing into the facility. Every time you enter a well-accredited  ward as such, whether it be for detoxification or for psychiatric purposes, you will likely be signing a slew of papers stating your rights. Some of these will be rights that you must voluntarily give up while under medical examination, and some of them will be the rights that you are allowed to hold onto. This will be the standard for any quality detox program that you enter and will usually be null and void at the time of your departure. It is advised to request these forms and to read over them very carefully as to what will be permissible in said unit.

Is It Time For Detox?

As human beings, our bodies take quite the beating. The first step of the twelve steps is accepting that there is a problem with alcohol or narcotics abuse. Sometimes it’s hard to face reality and really admit that something is taking control. Nobody should have to do this alone, and the good news is that you don’t have to. If you’ve reached the point of wanting help and are not sure where to step first, please call 1-866-802-6848 or visit www.coastaldetox.com. Our specialists are here to assist you in recognizing the problem and creating a brighter future that can be detoxification free and a life beyond the lowered expectations we set for o